tHE rEAcH out TO ASiA QuArtErLY nEWSLETTEr, iSSuE 3, may 2014 SponSorS’ Support iS HELping ROTA to AcHiEvE itS goals t is thanks to the generous support of Reach Out To Asia’s i (ROTA’s) sponsors that our projects are successfully helping to empower local communities to improve their quality of living. Throughout this newsletter there are countless examples of ROTA’s programs in action, within Qatar and across Asia. Our projects are assisting people to build a future based on hope, where individuals have access to a quality education and are given the opportunity to develop their knowledge and skills. We are indebted to our partners and sponsors for helping us to make this happen, not only through their financial contributions, but also through the giving of their employees’ time and resources. All of our activities emphasize the need for society to participate in the development of the country’s society and its economic facets, and it is through society that we are making our strongest commitments. Wheels ‘n’ Heels 2014, ROTA’s largest annual community event, brought together families of all nationalities in a fun-filled day, in which they shared their enjoyment in following a healthy lifestyle, while showing their support for ROTA’s programs. Our sponsors also participated in the day, entering teams into the events as well as staffing the activities. We are grateful for their generosity. Wheels ‘n’ Heels 2014 will definitely be cherished by the children joining us as a day on which they enjoyed themselves and learned about ROTA’s important messages. Engaging young people of all ages is a key theme for ROTA. The recently held Empower Youth Conference 2014 provided multiple opportunities for our youth to develop the qualities necessary to grow their EMpoWErMEnt tHrougH SportS leadership skills and contribute to society. As a result of the spirit of community and collaboration woven throughout ROTA’s activities, we can enjoy ROTA teaches FuTuRE lEAdERs vital skills at EvENT a shared sense of success as our efforts make a positive change to the lives of those they assist. Essa Al Mannai, Executive Director, ROTA New sCHOOl iNAugurated iN PAkistan, p2 COllAboratiON WiTH Qatar CHARity, p3 COmmuNity supports WHEEls ‘N’ HEEls, p4 WWW.fAcEbook.coM/rEAcHouttoasiA tWittEr.coM/rEAcHouttoasiA WWW.YoutubE.coM/uSEr/rEAcHouttoasiaTV WWW.rEAcHouttoasiA.org 2 nEWS rounD-up nEWS rounD-up 3 ROTA pilots Adult Arabic literacy Program and in SHort nepali residents YEMEn’S YoutH buSiness welcomes new season of English teaching benefit from LEADErS rEcEivE booSt sTudENT vOLUNTEERs HElP WORkERs dEvElOP ROTA program in its efforts to improve the prospects of Yemen’s lANguAgE skills Operating in 22 villages in the kailali youth, ROTA has signed a series of collaboration district of western Nepal, ROTA’s ‘improving agreements with CARE international and uoyed by the success of its Adult English Quality of Education and building Resilience silatech. The partnerships, established in mid- literacy initiative for low-skilled migrant in schools’ is increasing communities’ November 2013, have initiated a wide-ranging b workers, ROTA has launched an Arabic capacity to withstand natural disasters. program of training and mentorship to give version of the course. The vodafone Qatar joint initiative is young entrepreneurs relevant skills, access to under the ROTA Adult Arabic literacy (RAAl) carried out with the support of mercy Essa Al mannai, Executive director, ROTA, and Yousuf bin Ahmed Al kuwari, Qatar Charity financial services, and technical assistance in Program, sponsored by Qatar Petroleum, a group Corps, ActionAid Nepal, and other local Executive Officer. starting their own business ventures. The project of volunteer trainers are teaching 50 migrant groups. The project has improved the will operate in seven urban and rural districts in workers Arabic. infrastructure of school buildings, which sana’a and Hajja until 2015. ROTA partnered with Qatar university (Qu) and are often used as safe shelters during ROTA AnD QAtAr cHAritY coMMit to the sheikh Abdullah bin Zaid Al-mahmoud islamic times of crisis. The initiative also coaches collaborAtE to Support PalestiniAn StuDEntS Cultural Centre (FANAR) to develop a basic teaching individuals on how to react to reduce risk. model. low-skilled workers employed at Qu are student volunteers taught migrant workers The effectiveness of the program was New AgREEmENT Will improvE EducatiON faciliTiEs iN WEsT bANk voLuntEEr being offered the course over a six-month period. basic Arabic skills in the program. witnessed in July 2013 when the far ApprEciAtion EvEnt Prior to becoming trainers, the volunteers west of Nepal suffered heavy rainfall. OTA and Qatar Charity have signed help them cope with today’s ever-changing world attended a one-day training program organized by Taleb from Al Fanar. At the end of the training, literacy shantaram Chaudhary, President, shree an agreement committing the two and become effective leaders and decision-makers ROTA marked international volunteer day ROTA, and provided by mohammed Al Haj mahmoud Trainers were given a copy of the RAAl curriculum. shiva lower secondary school, explained: r organizations to work together to of tomorrow,” Al mannai said. 2013 on 5 december with a screening of meanwhile, the 2013-2014 ROTA Adult English “The disaster Risk Reduction training improve the quality of education in the West bank. The organizations will work to promote a culture the documentary ‘living On One dollar’ at bEHinD tHE progrAM literacy (RAEl) program to help low-skilled workers from the project helped us immensely in signed on 19 February 2014, by Essa Al mannai, of reading, sports participation, and usage of the Hamad bin khalifa university student Center. improve their English language skills, started with reducing the flood’s impact. Apart from Executive director, ROTA, and Yousuf bin Ahmed Arabic language, in an area, which indications show, is The event gave ROTA the opportunity to The RAAl initiative is a result of a survey a ‘Training The Trainer’ course for 36 new volunteer the mock drill, we had also learnt about Al kuwari, Qatar Charity Executive Officer, in the suffering from a significant drop in levels of educational extend its appreciation and gratitude to its carried out by ROTA, which suggested that 55 student tutors. The volunteers attending the two-day the Early Warning system, so when it presence of senior officials of both organizations, the attainment due to current political and economic strife. volunteers, while highlighting many of the percent of low-skilled workers did not have training session, developed in association with Qatar started to rain heavily, we got the likma agreement will lead to improved educational facilities Al kuwari emphasized that Qatar Charity is pleased issues surrounding the individuals it seeks to any Arabic literacy skills, while 45 percent of milestone Training solutions, were from georgetown River gauge reading so that we could and teaching capacity for students and their teachers. to be part of the agreement. “We are confident that help throughout Asia. workers appeared to have a fair degree of university in Qatar, Texas A&m university at Qatar, prepare ourselves. Al mannai explained how ROTA is committed to this partnership will go a long way in expanding our spoken Arabic with no reading or writing skills. Weill Cornell medical College in Qatar, Carnegie “Everyone who got this information supporting those in need in the Arab world with a efforts and create opportunities that will improve the The initiative aims to educate workers in mellon university in Qatar, as well as ROTA itself. was able to escape the worst effects of quality education and how this goal is mirrored by lives of many people in the quest for a more equal fundamental modern standard Arabic, which will Qualified literacy Trainers are now delivering a the flood, because they had already safely Qatar Charity’s ‘Education and Culture’ strategy. society, and thereby make a difference. HigH nuMbEr Apply to also build cultural understanding and tolerance. specially tailored curriculum to low-skilled workers located their important documents and “Continuing educational advancement is “This agreement with ROTA will not only help AttEnD ROTA confErEncE employed at Education City universities and ROTA. other valuable items,” he added. “mock absolutely key to uplift the lives of Palestinians and develop the West bank’s children and students’ drills and the Early Warning system saved with Qatar Charity, we share the same belief that potential, but it will also develop and enhance their A record 975 young people, aged between our lives and livelihoods.” this project will bring real benefits to schoolchildren personal, social, and educational skills to give them 16 and 26, applied to attend Empower Youth and students – equipping them with crucial skills to a real advantage in life,” he said. Conference 2014. due to this high number, New sCHOOl iNAugurated ROTA collaborated with the Family Consulting Center to train the ROTA youth advisory NEARlY 600 CHildREN now RECEiviNg AN EducatiON iN board, who help to organize the event, to CRisis-HiT AREA OF PAkisTAN interview prospective applicants. future leaders inspired OTA marked the inauguration of a new Read more about the conference on page 6. school in the swat district of khyber ROTA youth program r Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan, in by October 2013. ROTA’s 7th Youth service Club (RYsC) undertaken tested management, Working alongside CARE international, the leadership program was held between advocacy, and teamwork, in the school building was completed in August 2013 and 24 and 27 November 2013, at Hamad fulfillment of different projects. comprises nine classrooms, a hall, and a science bin khalifa university student Center. mohamed Abdulla saleh, ROTA laboratory, and already houses 596 students. Over the four days, 80 school and National Programs director, explained The inauguration ceremony was attended by university students, aged between 16 how the learning program, taught in The government Higher secondary school ROTA representative, Naseer iqbal, international kishawara, Pakistan.